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. 2021 Sep;32(3):526-534.
doi: 10.1007/s13337-021-00698-z. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

Chemical composition and anti-Mayaro virus activity of Schinus terebinthifolius fruits

Tiago S Salles  1 , Marcelo D F Meneses  1 , Kristie A Yamamoto  1 , Thayane E Sá-Guimarães  1 , Lucio Ayres Caldas  2   3 , Jessica H S Silva  4 , Polianna da Silva Ferreira  5 , Ana Claudia F Amaral  6 , José A Ventura  7 , Renata Campos Azevedo  1 , Ricardo M Kuster  4   5 , Márcia R Soares  8 , Davis F Ferreira  1   2   9
Affiliations

Chemical composition and anti-Mayaro virus activity of Schinus terebinthifolius fruits

Tiago S Salles et al. Virusdisease. 2021 Sep.

Abstract

Brazilian traditional medicine has explored the antiviral properties of many plant extracts, including those from the Brazilian pepper tree, Schinus terebinthifolius. In the present study, we investigated the chemical composition and anti-mayaro virus (MAYV) activity of S. terebinthifolius fruit. Extensive virucidal activity (more than 95%) was detected for the ethyl acetate extract and the isolated biflavonoids. From the ethyl acetate extract of Schinus terebinthifolius fruits, two bioflavonoids were isolated ((2S, 2″S)-2,3,2″,3″-tetrahydroamentoflavone and agathisflavone), which showed strong virucidal activity against Mayaro virus. Furthermore, several other compounds like terpenes and phenolics were identified by hyphenated techniques (GC-MS, LC-MS and HPLC-UV), as well as by mass spectrometry. Immunofluorescence assay confirmed antiviral activity and transmission electron microscopy revealed damage in viral particles treated with biflavonoids. The data suggest the direct action of the extract and the biflavonoids on the virus particles. The biflavonoids tetrahydroamentoflavone and agathisflavone had strong virucidal activity and reduced MAYV infection.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-021-00698-z.

Keywords: Antiviral; Biflavonoids; Schinus terebinthifolius; Virus mayaro.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interestThe authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Antiviral activity of ethyl acetate and biflavonoids on MAYV replication. a Tetrahydroamentoflavone; b agasthisflavone; c ethyl acetate extract; d dichloromethane extract. Vertical bars represent standard deviation and the * represents a significant difference between the conditions
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a Effect during the first cycle of replication. Confluent monolayers of Vero cells were treated with two different concentrations of ethyl acetate extract, aroeira tetrahydroamentoflavone and agasthisflavone. Data are presented as mean % virus yield (compared to untreated controls) ± SD. b Virucidal activity. 100 PFU MAYV was treated with tetrahydroamentoflavone, agasthisflavone, aroeira oil and ethyl acetate extract. Data are presented as mean % virus yield (compared to untreated controls) ± SD. For T = 1 h, virus and substance were incubated for 1 h prior to infection). For T = 0 h, virus and substance were added at the infection time (no previous incubation)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
a Purified Mayaro virus particles; b Purified Mayaro virus particles incubated at 37 °C for 1 h; c Purified Mayaro virus particles treated with tetrahydroamentoflavone; d Purified Mayaro virus particles treated with agasthisflavone; e Purified Mayaro virus particles treated with ethyl acetate extract. Bars, 100 nm
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